A view of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat being prepared for a test run in Long Beach, California.

Description given with photograph: "Fuselage of Hughes' Hercules Leaves Hangar, Culver City, Calif - Cautiously moving down the field on dollies after leaving the Culver City, Calif., plant hangar, the 200-foot hull-fuselage of Howard Hughes' Hercules is made ready for the 28-mile trip to Terminal Island, Calif., where the air giant will be assembled. NY 80 Credit Line (ACME) 6/16/46."

Howard Hughes standing with others in Houston, Texas, during a celebration of his around-the-world event.

Description given with photo: "Flying Boat Put To Test - San Pedro, Calif. : Howard Hughes pilots his much-publicized flying boat on the first of a series of taxi runs in Los Angeles harbor on November 2nd. Shortly afterward, the millionaire plane builder took the giant ship up on a surprise half-mile flight. Credit Line (ACME) 11/04/47."

Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Hughes waves to cheering million. New York City--- Clean-shaven once more, Howard Hughes smiles his gratitude to the millions of New Yorkers who showered him with ticker-tape and torn paper--New York's own accolade, as paraded up Broadway, followed by his companions in the carbehind in the greatest reception since Lindbergh's. On the left is Grover Whalen, head of the New York World's Fair, 1939, and on the right, Al Lodwick, manager of the round-the-world record smashing flight. Credit Line (ACME) 7/15/38."

A view of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat being prepared for a test run in San Pedro, California.

A view of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat being prepared for a test run in San Pedro, California.